Key Battles of American History

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1977 epic film A Bridge Too Far, which dramatizes Operation Market Garden. The movie had a big budget and an all-star cast, but does it live up to the hype? Listen and find out! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the fall of 1944, the Allied push toward Germany began to slow down due to supply and logistical problems. The daring September offensive codenamed Operation Market Garden, designed to break the logjam, failed miserably. By the end of November, the Allied armies had settled in near the German border, hoping to soon resume offensive operations and drive into Germany. Join Sean and James as they...

Generally considered the one of the greatest–if not THE greatest–war movies ever made, Steven Spielberg’s 1998 film Saving Private Ryan revolutionized the genre of war movies. In this episode, Sean and James present an in-depth discussion of this modern-day classic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After eight weeks of grinding, grueling combat that expanded the Normandy beachhead, the Allies conducted a remarkable series of offensives that led to one of the great breakthroughs of the war, carrying the Allies to Paris and beyond to the defenses of Germany itself. Join Sean and James as they discuss the critical Allied advances from July to September 1944. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

In The History of North America Podcast, historian Mark Vinet takes us on an exciting and fascinating journey through time, exploring and focusing on the interesting, compelling, wonderful, tragic, intriguing, and inspiring stories of North America. In this episode, Mark explores one of the most glorious Mesoamerican societies and encounters the Pre-Hispanic Mexico ancient culture & civilizati...

In this episode, James interviews foreign policy expert Sean Mirski about his recently published book We May Dominate the World: Ambition, Anxiety, and the Rise of the American Colossus. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1962 docudrama movie The Longest Day was a groundbreaking war film. Join Sean and James as they discuss this classic film, with its all-star cast and realistic depiction of the 1944 Normandy Invasion. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On June 6, 1944, a massive Allied land, sea, and air force crossed the English Channel and conducted the largest amphibious attack in world history, hitting Normandy at five different beaches. The German defenders were well-trained, well-armed, and dug in. Would the attack succeed? Join Sean and James as they discuss Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, often popularly referred to as simp...

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2007 film Valkyrie, which deals with the “July Plot,” an attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler which came very close to succeeding. Tom Cruise stars as Klaus von Stauffenberg, the leader of the conspiracy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On June 22, 1944–three years to the day after the German invasion of the Soviet Union began–the Soviets launched a massive offensive called Operation Bagration, which resulted in the destruction of the German Army Group Center and the opening of the way to Berlin. In this episode, Sean and James discuss Bagration, as well as Soviet advances in the north and south, the “July Plot” to assassinate Ad...

In Organized Crime and Punishment: A History and Crime Podcast, historian Steve Guerra and his trusty sidekick “Mustache Chris'' explore the rise of organized crime in various regions of the world and delve into the lives of some of the most renowned criminals and notorious gangsters. Every week, you’ll hear historical recollections and exclusive interviews about everything organized crime, from t...

Under President Franklin Roosevelt’s resolute leadership, the United States rose from poverty and solitude to defeat the greatest evils of the twentieth century. Join James as he interviews historian Craig Nelson, author of the recently-released book V is for Victory: Franklin Roosevelt’s American Revolution and the Triumph of World War II. In the interview, Nelson explains how Roosevelt, assisted...

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1990 film Memphis Belle, which narrates the harrowing story of the 25th and final mission of the most famous B-17 bomber of World War 2. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Allied strategic bombing campaign against Germany was long, difficult, costly, and still elicits controversy. The battle went through different phases, with constantly evolving tactics, objectives, and technology, but the end result was critical to the defeat of the German war effort. Join Sean and James in this topic episode that covers the crucial air war over Europe. See omnystudio.com/list...

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2021 Netflix film Operation Mincemeat, which tells the story of one of the most successful examples of military deception in history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On July 9, 1943, Allied forces launched Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. 38 days later, the entire island was under Allied control. On September 3, British and American forces took the fight to the Italian peninsula, although this time, the going would be much slower and more difficult. Join Sean and James as they tell the story of the Allies’ effort to conquer the first fascist state in E...

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the epic biographical 1970 classic film Patton, starring George C. Scott in the title role. Patton narrates the life and career of General George S. Patton, from his taking command of the American Second Corps in 1943 through the end of the war. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the final days of the great defeat of Rommel’s Panzerarmee Afrika at El Alamein, a new enemy appeared to threaten the Axis position in North Africa. For the first time in the war, America took the field against the Nazis as they invaded the Vichy French territories of Morocco and Algeria. Join Sean and James as they discuss Operation Torch, the epic Allied invasion of North Africa. See omnystud...

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the brief but gripping 2020 film Greyhound, starring Tom Hanks. Greyhound tells the story of a group of American, British, and Canadian destroyers that are trying to defend a supply convoy from a pack of German submarines during the Battle of the Atlantic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Germany’s declaration of war on the United States opened a new and more deadly chapter in the War at Sea in the Second World War. The fight for control of the vital sea lanes to and from Great Britain would rage from the Arctic Circle to the very shores of the Americas. In this episode, Sean and James discuss the naval war around Europe from 1942 to the end...

World War II pilots were often pushed to the limit of human endurance, especially in the early years of the war. The classic 1948 film Twelve O’Clock High tells the story of a fictional air group based in the UK that conducted hundreds of daytime bombing raids over Germany. Even the tough, no-nonsense Group Commander (played by Gregory Peck) is not immune from the stress of combat. Join Sean and J...

At the beginning of 1941, Italian forces had suffered a catastrophic defeat in North Africa at the hands of the British Army in Egypt. Il Duce’s fortunes were on the wane, but the arrival of a capable German commander and a small Panzer Korps would radically change the situation in North Africa. Join Sean and James as they tell about the epic battle between Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (the “Desert...

The epic Battle of Stalingrad was one of the most horrific and bloody battles of the Second World War. Several movies have tried to capture the horror of the war, but none does so better than the 1993 German-Russian production. Few, if any, movies in this series are more realistic and brutal than this one. In this episode, Sean and James break down the movie for you. See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Before the German Army Group South could capture the oil fields of the Caucasus, it needed to secure the key city of Stalingrad. The fight for Stalingrad turned into one of the most brutal and nasty battles of the war. In this episode, Sean and James do their best to tell the story of Stalingrad, as well as to describe the Battle of Kursk, the largest tank battle in history. See omnystudio.com/lis...

In this clip from the Eyewitness History Podcast, former Vietnam War veteran & "tunnel rat" Nick Sanza discusses his experience overseas, what it's like coming from a long lineage of military service, and what he learned from the tunnels in this interview from the Eyewitness History podcast. Continue listening to Eyewitness History: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/44jShCi Spotify: https://spo...